Let’s Focus on Camp Safety

Summer camp is a perfect place for sex abusers to groom and abuse kids.
Children are as vulnerable to sexual predation at camp as they are
anywhere else—perhaps more so, because their parents aren’t there to
supervise them. It’s tempting, as a parent, to use euphemisms when
describing body parts and functions to your child. But if your child
should ever be molested, this “soft” language can actually hurt the
investigation—and your child’s credibility as a victim. It behooves you
as a parent to teach your child the proper names for “private” parts of
his or her body, and that no one should ever touch them unless that
person is a doctor or an emergency medical technician.

As a child I enjoyed my camp
experiences. In Boy Scout camp I learned about safety, first aid and to
be prepared. As a counselor and senior staffer in Jewish sleepaway camps
I was always safety conscious. For over 40 summers as I took campers on
overnights in the woods, canoeing and whitewater rafting I never had an
accident or even a sniffle despite rain and foul weather. Summer camp
has changed a great deal.

Years ago counselors were actually
trained. At 16 you were a CIT, at 17 you were a JC and at 18 you were
trusted to be a counselor. There were rules—for campers and for
counselors. Camp was a rustic experience that was structured around fun
activities, sports, arts and crafts, swimming and chinuch. Counselors
took their responsibilities seriously.

Today, with the exception of Moshava,
Jewish sleepaway camps are hotels for children, complete with A/C and
canteens offering full-course meals. Activities are optional as is
instructional swim, and counselors are more interested in socializing,
texting and sports than in supervising their campers. How times have
changed. Camp owners want to fill bunk beds and will allow parents and
campers to dictate policy. Visiting Day is whenever a parent wants to
come to camp; parents fork over extra money for trip days to take
campers out of camp; and grills, TVs, cell phones and refrigerators
challenge bunk wiring systems and fire codes.

Freedom is what summer is all about. In
2017 it means freedom from parents, freedom from schedules and freedom
from rules. If this is what today’s parents want for their children,
fine. But summer camp should not mean freedom from safety.

A good camp will have written health
policies and protocols, and all children attending the camp should be
required to have had a complete exam by a doctor in the past year and be
up to date on all childhood shots. Close quarters can breed a host of
illnesses. Are daily showers mandated, especially for boys? Before camp
starts, parents should make sure the camp has a detailed health history
of their child, including any significant illnesses, operations,
injuries, allergies and any current medical problems.

Is there a resident pediatrician? Are
first-aid supplies readily available throughout the camp and on athletic
fields? Parents should also ask questions about activities. Some camps
have high rope courses, rock climbing, extreme skateboarding, in-line
skating and freestyle BMX biking. If your child will be involved in
boating, swimming or other water sports, for example, you’ll want to
know about such things as life jackets, supervision and the ARC and CPR
certification of instructors. Does the camp have a release statement
that allows them to seek emergency medical treatment while making
efforts to contact parents?

For children with allergies, parents
should send along Benadryl or Epi-pens for children who could suffer a
serious attack if exposed to a known allergen, such as a bee sting.
Parents who send medication to camp with their child should know who
supervises such things and what the rules are regarding over-the-counter
drugs. Another concern for some parents is what their child will eat at
camp. Food allergies or anything the parent does not want the child to
eat should be clearly communicated to the camp staff. Is peanut butter
served? Is candy with nuts available in the canteen?

Most camps are located in isolated rural
areas. What are the security measures taken by the camp? Are there
night patrols and security cameras? Is access restricted? What safety
precautions are in place at cookouts and campfires? Are fire
extinguishers prominently available?

Summer camp is a perfect place for sex
abusers to groom and abuse kids. Children are as vulnerable to sexual
predation at camp as they are anywhere else—perhaps more so, because
their parents aren’t there to supervise them. It’s tempting, as a
parent, to use euphemisms when describing body parts and functions to
your child. But if your child should ever be molested, this “soft”
language can actually hurt the investigation—and your child’s
credibility as a victim. It behooves you as a parent to teach your child
the proper names for “private” parts of his or her body, and that no
one should ever touch them unless that person is a doctor or an
emergency medical technician.

Parents have an obligation to determine
whether or not the camp is accredited, what sort of child sex
abuse/awareness training the staff receive, what sort of hiring
practices the camp uses (are background checks required?) and whether
the camp asks for staff references.

If the camp has a pool, is it well
maintained? Is the deep end roped off from the shallow end so it’s
crystal clear to little ones where they can swim? Is there adequate
adult supervision at all times? Are campers allowed to wander around
unsupervised? Is the food served well balanced? Are campers allowed to
receive food packages from home? If so, what provisions are made for
proper storage in the bunks to avoid infestation?

Do counselors check for hats and
sunscreen, hydration adequate rest? How are field trips managed? Do they
involve riding on a bus, and does that bus have seat belts? Does camp
staff bring emergency contact numbers with them on field trips so that
the information is easily obtainable? Much of this is common sense and
applies to day camps as well as sleepaway camps. Don’t assume anything.
Ask.

Do camp personnel know about health
conditions such as Lyme disease, West Nile virus or Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever? Camp staff should also be able to spot signs of
dehydration, overheating, sunburn, respiratory distress, asthma or other
conditions that can occur during rigorous activities.

Illnesses that commonly affect camp life
and require intervention include upper respiratory tract infections,
vomiting and diarrhea, asthma and allergies, conjunctivitis (pinkeye),
poison ivy and poison oak, sunburn and heat-related illnesses. To
minimize a child’s risk of developing such conditions, find out which
safety measures camps have in place to protect the children in their
care.

Thank God that there have been few
catastrophes. However, we still hear about the occasional drowning, lost
camper or lice epidemic. Summer camp remains a magical, cherished time
for children. What happens in camp usually stays in camp. Parents need
to insure that camp memories are always positive.

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